This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35601220
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Uganda election: Facebook and Whatsapp blocked | Uganda election: Facebook and Whatsapp blocked |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Social media has been blocked in Uganda on the day of presidential elections to stop people "telling lies", President Yoweri Museveni has said. | Social media has been blocked in Uganda on the day of presidential elections to stop people "telling lies", President Yoweri Museveni has said. |
| Mr Museveni, 71, is seeking to extend his 30-year rule, in a race widely seen as the tightest in the East African state's history. | Mr Museveni, 71, is seeking to extend his 30-year rule, in a race widely seen as the tightest in the East African state's history. |
| His main rival Kizza Besigye was briefly detained by police. | His main rival Kizza Besigye was briefly detained by police. |
| A foreign observer group condemned the blockage of social media and lengthy delays in opening voting booths. | A foreign observer group condemned the blockage of social media and lengthy delays in opening voting booths. |
| Uganda decides: Live updates | Uganda decides: Live updates |
| Uganda's election explained | Uganda's election explained |
| Interviewed on TV about social media, Mr Museveni said: "Some people misuse those pathways. You know how they misuse them - telling lies. | Interviewed on TV about social media, Mr Museveni said: "Some people misuse those pathways. You know how they misuse them - telling lies. |
| "If you want a right then use it properly." | "If you want a right then use it properly." |
| Many people found a way around the controversial restrictions, including opposition candidate Amama Mbabazi who tweeted advice on how to do it: | Many people found a way around the controversial restrictions, including opposition candidate Amama Mbabazi who tweeted advice on how to do it: |
| A VPN - a Virtual Private Network - gets round government censorship by redirecting your internet activity to a computer in a different country. | A VPN - a Virtual Private Network - gets round government censorship by redirecting your internet activity to a computer in a different country. |
| Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and mobile money services were blocked. | Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and mobile money services were blocked. |
| Despite this, #UgandaDecides was trending on Twitter. | Despite this, #UgandaDecides was trending on Twitter. |
| Commonwealth election observer mission head Olusegun Obasanjo said: "It is ill advised if anyone has blocked social media." | Commonwealth election observer mission head Olusegun Obasanjo said: "It is ill advised if anyone has blocked social media." |
| Condemning the failure of voting stations to open on time, he said: "Delays of three, four, five and even six hours, especially in Kampala, are absolutely inexcusable and will not inspire trust and confidence in the system and the process". | Condemning the failure of voting stations to open on time, he said: "Delays of three, four, five and even six hours, especially in Kampala, are absolutely inexcusable and will not inspire trust and confidence in the system and the process". |
| The electoral commission said difficulties in transporting electoral materials caused the delays, and voting at some polling stations would continue on Friday. | |
| The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in the capital, Kampala, reports that crowds were angry after waiting several hours to vote and police fired tear gas to disperse them. | The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in the capital, Kampala, reports that crowds were angry after waiting several hours to vote and police fired tear gas to disperse them. |
| Voting was cancelled at at least two polling stations in the city after clashes with police and accusations of fake ballots being distributed. | Voting was cancelled at at least two polling stations in the city after clashes with police and accusations of fake ballots being distributed. |
| Some voters in Kampala, traditionally an opposition stronghold, accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the vote, AFP news agency reports. | Some voters in Kampala, traditionally an opposition stronghold, accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the vote, AFP news agency reports. |
| "People are quite angry and everybody is believing that there is something wrong behind this because of the way they are delaying things," Moses Omony, a motorbike taxi driver, is quoted as saying. | "People are quite angry and everybody is believing that there is something wrong behind this because of the way they are delaying things," Moses Omony, a motorbike taxi driver, is quoted as saying. |
| Mr Besigye was arrested for demanding access to a house in Kampala where he believed vote rigging was taking place following the closure of polling stations, said Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, spokesman for his FDC party. | Mr Besigye was arrested for demanding access to a house in Kampala where he believed vote rigging was taking place following the closure of polling stations, said Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, spokesman for his FDC party. |
| He was taken to a police station before being released. | |
| Mr Besigye is among seven opposition candidates hoping to end Mr Museveni's 30-year rule. | |
| A candidate needs to secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off with the second-ranked contender. | A candidate needs to secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off with the second-ranked contender. |
| Ugandans also voted in parliamentary and local elections. | Ugandans also voted in parliamentary and local elections. |
| Counting is under way and official results are expected by Saturday. | |
| Major presidential contenders: | Major presidential contenders: |
| Uganda election: Issues, candidates and the poll | Uganda election: Issues, candidates and the poll |
| Uganda election: Old guard tries new tactics | Uganda election: Old guard tries new tactics |